Return The Heart

Title: Return the Heart
Author: T.K. Richardson

Goodreads blurb:

What if your gift was a curse?

To a casual passerby, Lilly Paige is anything but special. As a seventeen year old, she is faced with all the complications of a teenager, but deep down there is much more. Lilly has a gift, though sometimes it seems to be a curse.

Lilly can peer into the hearts of others - their deepest, darkest secrets are there for Lilly to see - but to what end? Raised by aloof parents, Lilly has been independent her whole life, but soon she will need to rely on her friends to evade an evil that has sold her gift to the highest bidder on the black market. Lilly and her four closest friends are immersed in a dangerous game of cat and mouse, that will not only reveal more about Lilly's gift, but also her link to an old Russian prophecy.

Can Lilly and her friends escape the danger that is so close they can practically feel it? Where will their perilous journey lead them - to darkness or light? 

My Take:

I have been blown away by the number of really fascinating young adult novels coming out in the last few years. Whatever the cause, I have a number of young adult books on my "TBR" pile and most of them are books my teenage son wouldn't wouldn't look twice at. :o) I can't even use the excuse that I'm pre-reading anymore, I'm picking them because they interest me.


This book is targeted for young adults as well, but it had plenty to keep my interest. All of the characters are nearing the end of high school and gifted in more ways than one. Lilly is the central character, but the whole group has a lot of personality and depth. All of them feel at once like teenagers and more mature. They've had to go through a lot in the book and before it so it makes sense. 


There is a lot to this book. It has interesting glimpses into all kinds of different people and their motives. It challenges stereotypes and you get to see Lilly move from being an individual who is very isolated and doesn't trust pretty much anyone - to being part of a team, more of an extended family, that she depends on for her life. 


It has mystery, action, romance, folklore... something for everyone. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I want to thank the author and Goodreads for providing the book (I won it in a drawing).